There is no place in the workplace for a preferred religion and I think Tyson's shareholders will feel the same way.
##############################
#

Only if it doesn't affect their stock holdings.

"Union leaders said implementing the holiday was important for the nearly 700 Muslims, many of them Somalis, who work at the plant that employs a total of 1,200 people."

Do I really need to say anything else?

Isn't this what religionists want? For the majority to decide what the religion for all will be?

They sure do when they think it's always going to be Christianity.

A special prayer room has been set aside for the Muslims working at Tyson Foods? Give me a break. Did they build the foot baths yet too? Give these Muslims an inch (and a courtrooom) and they will take a mile.

Tyson Foods -- at the very maximum -- should have only allowed their Muslim employees to take one unpaid day off to celebrate and that's it.

Why is the Muslim religion being catered to and fawned over all the time in this country. Is it because they drag every employer into court and sue them if they don't?

I know when I was working at a major firm we were allowed three hours off for the Christian religious day of Good Friday. They gave us the option to taking the time off without penalty but the employees had to absorb the loss of pay from their own paychecks.

We also didn't have a "special prayer room" like the Muslims. I don't ever recall Christian employees who observed "Good Friday" demanding on that day the firm allow some priest to swing incense and stop to make the 14 Stations of the Cross up and down the firm's hallways either.

If employers do not join together now and stop this takeover by Muslims on the basis of honoring their religion over everyone else's, the U.S. will end up an Islamic country.

Yeah, and no company lets employees off for Yom Kippur or Purim or...

"Tyson Foods -- at the very maximum -- should have only allowed their Muslim employees to take one unpaid day off to celebrate and that's it."

Same for Christian employees and Christmas? Unpaid?

"Why is the Muslim religion being catered to and fawned over all the time in this country. "

Did you read the article? Muslims are the majority of the workers at the plant. They also vote for the Union representation, and tell their reps what they expect from them in negotiation. Good for them, for getting what they want.

I'm confused CC. Are you saying its OK for Christmas to be a paid holiday, but not Eid al Fitr?

Union leaders said implementing the holiday was important for the nearly 700 Muslims, many of them Somalis, who work at the plant that employs a total of 1,200 people.

Union leaders said implementing the holiday was important for the nearly 700 Muslims, many of them Somalis, who work at the plant that employs a total of 1,200 people.

Union leaders said implementing the holiday was important for the nearly 700 Muslims, many of them Somalis, who work at the plant that employs a total of 1,200 people.

Any questions?

Fuck'em! They're Izzys.

-nanc

OK, NO religious holidays.
For anyone.
Ever.
Under any circumstances.
Happy Festivus!

Not that Tyson chicken sounded appetizing before, but 700 Somali muslims?
No thanks. I would hazzard a guess that Tyson doesn't need this type of press.

So when 58% of any company decides something then it must be acepted, right?

I've got 4 days a year that are "floating" holidays. I can use them for whatever I want. That would be fair.

"So when 58% of any company decides something then it must be acepted, right?"

Don't understand how Unions work, do you? It wouldn't surprise me if the local president and/or chief negotiator was a Muslim. They asked, the owners agreed, and both sides signed it. Why do Republicans want to get between business owners and their business decisions?

"I've got 4 days a year that are "floating" holidays. I can use them for whatever I want. That would be fair."

I imagine Tyson thought it was a better business decision to designate the day, rather than run the risk of 60% of their labor force taking a floater on the same day.

Why do Republicans want to get between business owners and their business decisions?

Posted by Danforth at 2008-08-04 04:02 PM | Reply |

Republicans do that? I could swear that it's liberals that are constantly bitching about business decisions. Are you sure you meant republicans dan?
I'm just wondering...You know, for the fuck of it, what would be the liberal response had this company been 58% white supremicists and they decided that Hitlers B-day was the day they wanted off.
Instead though, it's the muslims. And like clockwork the same bleeding hearts put aside their hatred for all things religious when it involves the poor muslims.

That's probably true.

YEAH!

Good thing we live in a Free Country! Those who dont like Tysons decision are Free to Go Work Elsewhere any time they can muster the resources!

But I have to wonder what kind of bottom rung employee would Pooh-Pooh a paid day off?

Oh, thats right, one so dumb as to cut off his own nose to spite his face (i.e. Bush voter)!

"And like clockwork the same bleeding hearts put aside their hatred for all things religious when it involves the poor muslims."

If it were the Jews and Passover, no one would make a peep. That it's Muslims, and folks are all against it, speaks volumes.

This country was founded on Christian-Judaeo principles, beliefs, and honoring those holidays are part of our American tradition and heritage. Are we suppose to trash and get rid of all our own heritage to cater to every single new immigrant with a different religion. That's why this kumbaya, PCBS is a joke.

I don't go over to their countries founded on Islamic principles and demand my Christian holidays be observed and honored -- and I wouldn't get it either. I'd probably only get beheaded.

So, do we next have a paid day off for the Wiccans and the Pagans? How about a Buddist holiday too? What about another day off for the Tibetan monks and the Hindus?

And don't forget a paid day off to just do nothing to honor the atheists in the group who believe in nothing. Where does it end? How many splinter groups and religions do we cater to? Isn't it enough for these immigrants from all over the world now pouring in and making their religious demands that they can to practice their religion in this country without penalty of death -- unlike in their own countries. Always more and more demands. If they don't like it, let these Muslims go back to Somalia.

Where I work, we used to only get Christmas day off as a paid holiday. Pretty much anybody with vacation time left at the end of the year would take Christmas Eve off too.

Logistically, it was just simpler to make Christmas Eve a paid holiday (at the expense of a minor holiday), than to try to operate an office and a field crew when 75% of the company had the day off. We did the same thing with making the Friday after Thanksgiving a paid holiday.

If my company was predominately Muslim, Jewish, or whatever, I suspect we'd probably re-arrange our paid holidays as we did with Christmas Eve or the Friday after Thanksgiving. If we didn't, we'd either be stuck denying people time off for a religious holiday or trying to operate an office at < 25% staffing.

"Union leaders said implementing the holiday was important for the nearly 700 Muslims, many of them Somalis, who work at the plant that employs a total of 1,200 people."

I'm personally concerned that there are 700 moslems, many of them somalis with sharp objects in any US city or town. I'm curious do they refer to their union proctor as "warlord"?

On a serious note:

Labor Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September. The holiday originated in 1882 as the Central Labor Union (of New York City) sought to create "a day off for the working man".

Congress made Labor Day a federal holiday in 1894.[1] All fifty states have made Labor Day a state holiday.

I guess the kicker is the fact that this is a Federal and all 57 (for Obama folks) State Recognized Holiday for, you guessed it, Labor... Sure, the non-union folks (only ~200people) can still take the day off but I'm sure that number will dwindle.

This is just un-believable. Unions are the Devil!

What will eventually happen is that there'll be so many different wacko religions demanding their religious rights the employers will eventually be forced to take away any and all religious holidays and we will see Christmas and Hannaukah thrown out the window. There will eventually be no Christmas/Hannuakah parties allowed at work each year, nada.

You want to soon see United States of Americastan?
Look at Great Britain and the Muslim mess that country has become.

Amen!

"Look at Great Britain and the Muslim mess that country has become."

That's because the UK doesn't allow them to be full participants and doesn't absorb them into their society. Do we want to go down that same road?

Hannaukah = Hannakuh

Danforth

The Muslims only THINK they aren't being allowed to be absorbed because they are always demanding all their religious rights take precedence over British law. The Muslim women physicians want to wear their veils while pracicing as doctors -- something not allowed the hospitals. The demand Sharia law instead of British law, and on and on it goes. Everything has to be accomodated for the Muslims conveniencs. How about, for a change, the Muslims try assimilating to the country where they have barged into and quit expecting everyone to cater to them.

pracicing = practicing

This is just un-believable. Unions are the Devil!--

YEAH!

Unless that Union is the NRA of course, or the Federalist Society ---- then apparently a collective representing the interests of its Dues Paying Members is perfectly agreeable and palatable to our closely held convictions!

Sincerely
The Increasingly Stupid Looking DR right--

"You know, for the fuck of it, what would be the liberal response had this company been 58% white supremicists and they decided that Hitlers B-day was the day they wanted off."

Where you gonna find 700 White Supremecists who want to work when they could be blaming other people for the fact that they are unemployable?

"The Muslims only THINK they aren't being allowed to be absorbed"

Oh, please. Look at France, and the problems there. European societies simply don't assimilate foreigners like America does. And if you isolate people, of course they'll seek out an identity. If you isolate an entire group, they'll look for a group identity.

Oh please, nobody is "isolating" these Muslims. They're in our workforce (probably taking American-born citizens jobs on the cheap) and most likely 99% of them are getting fat U.S. government refugee checks every month with my tax dollars too.

As for Europe, nobody does more PCBS for the Muslims and other foreigners than the Swedes and Norwegians and other very liberal countries but even those countries can't stand them anymore. Demand, demand, demand -- their own laws, their own customs take precedence, blah blah blah. Really, for supposedly "grateful" new immigrants for being allowed to come to our country these Muslims are the most demanding, selfish, and litigious group ever to arrive on our shores.

As for France, it was all Muslims who torched 5000 cars in Paris and set a handicapped person on fire during the Muslim riots. They would throw bombs at the police and then whine it was police harassment.

Get real, how much do you want to bend over and grab your ankles for the Muslims' non-stop demands until you finally get a backbone and say -- This is our country, you should be grateful you're here, and we have no intention of changing all our our laws, customs, heritage and beliefs only to satisfy you.

Ever notice, btw, how they demand Sharia law until it comes time to suing some corporation or small business owner in OUR legal system? Then U.S. law is more than okay. They are a bunch of phonies using our country and its laws and generosity all for their own benefit and monetary gain. You can go ahead and be a wimp and let your country be taken over. I won't.

Redneckville - Wow! You really think there's a parallel between organized labor (this article) and the NRA or the Federalist Society? I'm sure that I can just go to this Union's website and join, right? You mean I can't? then what's your point? What about the states where there is forced unionization? What do you mean I can't opt out? I would love to see how these two Private organizations are similar to Labor unions.

Where in this country can you have discourse on issues around religion, politics, the environment, etc. without being branded as racists, misogynists (misandry is acceptable, right Danni?), rednecks or homophobes. Heaven forbid that I follow a NASCAR race or two (although that won't last much longer with the competition caution BS) and live below the Mason Dixon.

"What do you mean I can't opt out?"

You can, and have been able to since the Beck decision of 1988.

You're only 20 years behind.

Communication Workers v. Beck, which established the rights of employees working under union contracts to pay only those union dues or fees necessary for performance of a unions employee representation duties. Under Beck, fees to support union expenditures unrelated to workplace representation, such as political, social, or charitable contributions, are not mandatory.

I am a bit rusty on my union knowledge as it has been a while since I belonged to one but I'm pretty sure that most of the options you have are based on the collective bargaining agreement between the Employer and the Extor, er, union. (Open, Agency, and Union Shops). Has all of that changed?

"As for France, it was all Muslims who torched 5000 cars in Paris and set a handicapped person on fire during the Muslim riots. "

Do you think the fact they work in the society, yet aren't eligible for the equivalent of Social Security, has any effect? And have you been there? The French have ostracized the Muslims since day one.

"This is our country, you should be grateful you're here, and we have no intention of changing all our our laws, customs, heritage and beliefs only to satisfy you."

But wait, we're a democratic society, right? If the majority of folks in one area want a change, they can vote for it. Isn't that the point?

"Oh please, nobody is "isolating" these Muslims."

You're joking, right? You've been bashing them this whole thread, and for what? Exercising their collective bargaining rights. Can't get much more American than that.

It used to be that I could only Opt-out of the union in Open and Agency Shops although in an Agency shop I would still have to pay the dues and in a union shop you joined or didn't work. Are there more options now? How about for teachers? Can they opt out of the union and still have a career in teaching?

taking a floater

----

Hey, when you gotta go, you gotta go.

"Are there more options now? How about for teachers? Can they opt out of the union and still have a career in teaching?"

Yes, it's called Financial Core.

"the collective bargaining agreement between the Employer and the Extor, er, union."

The operative word in that sentence is agreement. Every one has two sets of signatures: labor, and management. And if you think Unions are extortionists...you're right, it's been a long time since you've been involved. All too often the raises these days don't even meet COL.

Agreement, Contract, blood oath, whatever. If their 'leadership' can't bargain for what they need vs. feel good bullshit like this that's going to make them more of a nuisance to their community then they're probably worth then they need much better leadership and they will never get my pity.

" If their 'leadership' can't bargain for what they need vs. feel good bullshit like this "

They wanted this. And management agreed; that's all that matters. And why do you assume the Union negotiators don't bargain for what the workers "need"? That's usually the main thrust in pre-negotiating strategy sessions. This may have been added by management at the 11th hour to seal the deal. Yet you're pretending it was the only issue.

" that's going to make them more of a nuisance to their community"

Then that's the community's shortcoming, isn't it? Besides, with 60% of the workers, they probably are the community.

60% of Tyson - 700 of a community of ~17,000

Yeah, and no company lets employees off for Yom Kippur or Purim or...

Posted by Jomama

Yom Kippur yes... Purim no...

PS Fuck Muslims, they should all be deported, or not allowed in cities.

PS Fuck Muslims, they should all be deported, or not allowed in cities.

Posted by Rob_The_A_Hole

Let me zee your papers citizen.

For the record, I work with a bunch of Swiss guys and they get christian holidays off that I've never even heard of...and I was beaten by nuns.

I think all A_Holes should be deported, no matter what kind of voodoo they practice.

Hey A_Hole!!! Go back to A_holia!!! or A_holistan, wherever you came from!!!

I think all A_Holes should be deported, no matter what kind of voodoo they practice.

Posted by RastaCyborg

If you want to live in a boring country move to Canada...

who gives a fuck? maybe calf chris should put on a smock and go to work in a meat plant. usa is filling up with central asian muslim refugees who snitched for the cia and are now here as refugees. the only jobs are the shit work in meat factories. they have unlimited work visas (christian latinos are being sent away)so they get the work. if you don't like it go ahead and take their jobs--you'll love evicerating chickens for $7.50 an hour.....

If you want to live in a boring country move to Canada...

Posted by Rob_The_A_Hole

Clearly you've never visited Yonge St. in TO or St. Catherine's St. in Montreal.

Interesting - Shelbyville isn't listed:

Clearly you've never visited Yonge St. in TO or St. Catherine's St. in Montreal.

Posted by RastaCyborg

Nah, I've been to Montreal and Toronto quite a few times... yawn.

Wow!! 19 Mosques in Tennessee!!! Maybe in 1,000 years there will be as many muslim morons in Tennessee as there are christian morons.

Nah, I've been to Montreal and Toronto quite a few times... yawn.

Posted by Rob_The_A_Hole

Well, I guess it depends on what you're looking for, and I don't think I want to know what turns YOUR crank.

It'd be weird to work at that plant and celebrate this holiday, but how is it any different for non-Christians to work at a plant that honors a Christmas holiday? If your workforce is predominantly Muslim, shifting holidays to reflect that workforce may be the fairest thing to do. Either that, or giving workers more flexibility in the holidays they take.

Eid ul-Fitr , often abbreviated to Eid, is a Muslim holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. Eid is an Arabic word meaning "festivity", while Fitr means "to break the fast" (and can also mean "nature", from the word "fitrah") and so symbolizes the breaking of the fasting period.

Why that's almost as nutty as that "Lent" thing. I used to stop at this Italian deli twice a week for lunch (great freakin food); anyway, it was bought out by these muslim guys from Yemen and they were smart enough to keep all the kitchen staff. They were surly bastards during ramadan because they had to smell that freakin' awesome food all day long. I laughed as I chowed down.

There is no place in the workplace for a preferred religion and I think Tyson's shareholders will feel the same way.
Merry Christmas and a Happy Easter to you!

I woulda thought the Rightys here would be overjoyed Tyson is celebrating a day dear to the hearts of the saudis, and thus, the Bushies, instead of a commie holiday celebrating lazy(non-offshore) workers.

"""This country was founded on Christian-Judaeo principles, beliefs, and honoring those holidays are part of our American tradition and heritage."""

With all due respect cc, things change. Hell in some cultures, they would sacrifice a virgin to insure good crops. Same same but different.

If you feel so strongly about it, start a petition to make your country a theocracy.

Last place I worked--the owners were Jewish. They provided the regular holidays--about 9 - 10 total..
Christmas Day and Christmas Eve if close to the weekend or go home at 1:00. The July 4th and July 3rd if close to the weekend or half a day. Memorial, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the day before if close to the weekend or half the day to go home early.

They also gave folks the choice of taking off Good Friday, MLK Day or Presidents Day. The employee could choose one.

Another company I worked for gave 1/2 day off for VOTING--national election only. Now that I think about it--they were Jewish as well.

They shouldn't be choosing for the other 500 employees. Labor Day is pretty secular--everyone plans for this Holiday--except for muslims.

It could be a choice--either they take off Labor Day or the eid day.

"Labor Day is pretty secular--everyone plans for this Holiday--except for muslims."

What makes you think that, Goofy?

Apart from Christmas, what Christian holiday do you get off from work? One day. It is so entrenched in our culture that it is more of a "commercial" holiday than a religous one.

Halloween, Thanksgiving, Memorial Day, Labor Day, MLK day (why didn't tyson replace this one?). Not many people get Good Friday off anymore.

The holiday structure as it currently stands works for the majority of the country. If muslims, hindus or wikkens (sp) want to have their respective holidays off, no one is stopping them from having their own company with it's own holidays.

Chic-fil-a employees get every Sunday off btw. Don't like it, don't work there.

Why that's almost as nutty as that "Lent" thing. -rastachcycywborg

Wow more religous tolerance from the left. Oh wait, I mean more tolerance for anything mooslim from the left.

the left loves muslims almost as much as bush cheney rumsfield and the entire saudi friendship wing of the retardedcan party. you are a phony and a hypocritical texasshole

Chic-fil-a employees get every Sunday off btw. Don't like it, don't work there.

Posted by ELCIDCE90

Tyson gets Eid al-Fitr off, don't like it? Don't work there.

Wow more religous tolerance from the left. Oh wait, I mean more tolerance for anything mooslim from the left.

Posted by ELCIDCE90

All forms of religion are voodoo to me. And spelling it "mooslim" only makes you sound stupid.

It warms my heart to hear everyone sing the praises of our best holiday, Labor Day.

rip labor day and laborers

Why do we on the left keep getting accused of preferring the muslim brand of mental illness to the christian one?

Both have had their different hay-days for absolutely ridiculous and outmoded beliefs, as well as their fair share of human rights violations, and personally, I think the muslims are a problem, as they are currently the most voraciously ready to kill in the name of their imaginary scary bearded guy-in-the-sky.

But to prefer them over christians? Sure, Serbia was mostly that brand, but for the most part, muslims are the most devoted to human rights violations right now.

Quit being such a little martyr. Your god did that part just fine, and i'm still not sure he wasn't just playing an, "adult game," if you will, and forgot the safety word.

Wait......................Hear that? That's Irony. A Union dropping Labor Day? Ha, you lefties are screwed. Your unions no longer represent you.

I'm amazed at the level of hostility directed towards the decision by Tyson. A private company chooses to re-arrange its holiday schedule in order to avoid dealing with 60% of its employees taking the same day off for a religious holiday. If they didn't, they'd either have to deny vacation days or operate a facility with 40% staffing. This decision has nothing to do with being PC and everything to do with profitability/efficiency.

I'm not a particularly religious person but I didn't object when my company decided to give us Christmas Eve off as a paid holiday at the expense of Presidents Day.

Plus, I thought many on the right would be happy about the decision. You'd think they'd love to drop Labor Day (aka, May Day) as a holiday due to its socialist roots.

This is such a non-story. I don't believe so many people are getting worked up over it.

A majority of the work force asked that one of the 8 holidays they get a year be used for a special holiday for them.. The management agreed and life moves on...

Business willing to work with their employees and make compromises really shouldn't be a story...

"This country was founded on Christian-Judaeo principles, beliefs..."

"Always more and more demands. If they don't like it, let these Muslims go back to Somalia."

I'm sure the Indians felt the same way about the whites who sort of showed up, took over, and started founding the country with those lofty Christian-Judeo principles and beliefs. Add theft, rape, murder, attempted genocide, and solving the problem of those uppity savages by forcing them onto reservations in the middle of bum frak Egypt as methods employed for founding the country.

I'm sure those African slaves also appreciated those wonderful Christian-Judeo principles and beliefs as they were herded onto slave ships, brought to a strange land, sold, beaten, raped, worked to death, treated like animals.

This country was founded on the love of jesus and god and the bible and all that rot and it worked real well. If you were white and "christian."

"That's Irony. A Union dropping Labor Day? Ha, you lefties are screwed. Your unions no longer represent you."

You couldn't have it more backward. These workers wanted that day off, they obviously discussed it with their negotiators, and the Union negotiators got it in the contract.

The Union representation worked perfectly.

Whether "Labor Day" is honored or not is meaningless. The workers wants are MUCH more important.

Holidays used to truly mean something in the US.

Anynmore, most of the stores are open on designate4d national holidays, all the big sales enticing those few who are not working to come in and piss away their money on crap they probably don't need.

Christmas has become so watered down and a political bomb (can't say Merry Christmas, gotta be the winter holiday, Santa rules, jesus drools) that it should be removed from the list of national days off. You want to celebrate Christmas? Take a day off. You want to celebrate Eid al-Fitr? Take a day off. Don't trade off a designated national holiday for a religious holiday.

I hope this is challenged in the courts.

"I hope this is challenged in the courts."

On what grounds? Two sides in a collective bargaining situation agreed to something amenable to both sides. What's to challenge?

I'm usually the first one to say when Muslims are acting like jerkoffs but I seriously have no idea why this upsets some of you so much.

Its an agreement between two parties, neither of whom are complaining about it. The non-Muslims get the paid day off too and I'm sure they somehow find a way to enjoy that. It really isn't anybody else's business.

Quit being such a bunch of whiney little pussies, please.

"The whole religious complexion of the modern world is due to the absence from Jerusalem of a lunatic asylum." -- Thomas Paine

It's not like they're demanding the female workers wear head scarves, or some other method of implementing Sharia law.

Just a holiday. Who cares.

"It's not like they're demanding the female workers wear head scarves, or some other method of implementing Sharia law."

I'm anxiously awaiting the day when Sharia law is declared in the U.S. and they force Danni to put on that Burqa. Now THAT will be something to live for.

"I'm anxiously awaiting the day when Sharia law is declared in the U.S. and they force Danni to put on that Burqa. Now THAT will be something to live for."

Posted by jestgettinalong

Danni, sweating profusely, in traditional Muslim clothing?

Now that's HOT!

I can't wait till you religion hating folk are forced to pray 8 times a day.

I can't wait till you religion hating folk are forced to pray 8 times a day.

Posted by retnluvnit at 2008-08-05 11:59 AM

Been there, done that.

I went to public school in the South..

yes, but you will be praying to allah.

Where's the Christian chapel? Is there place for the Jewish employees to worship?

from the article:

Former employee and Shelbyville resident Anthony Proctor said he thinks what's happening is wrong.

He said he helped build a special Muslim prayer room that's located inside the plant and that no other Tyson facility has been that accommodating for any other religion.

"If we want to go pray, we dont have one for Christians," he said....

Cathoic = Catholic

"On what grounds? Two sides in a collective bargaining situation agreed to something amenable to both sides. What's to challenge?"

Posted by Danforth

Probably on no specific legal grounds at all. Though IMHO, trading out a National holiday for a religious holiday is just not right. There's gotta be something in the nebulous separation of church and state stuff.

This change out affects only a few hundred people, at this time. But once precedent is set...

"If you don't get a grip on this now -- we will soon look like Great Britain. England has now become two countries within one."

I really don't understand the thinking of our little leftist-socialist citizens who want to exercise all this tolerance and compassion for these Muslims. If these people get their way there will be hell to pay and our little friends will be the payers. Do you think there might be many, many stonings and beheadings for THESE tolerant and compassionate folks?

"Probably on no specific legal grounds at all. Though IMHO, trading out a National holiday for a religious holiday is just not right. "

So screw the law, sue because you feel it's "just not right"?!?

"When will soon any display of Christmas decorations by the 40% still working at the plant offend the religious sensitivities of the Muslims working there and soon none will be allowed? Just give it time. It will happen."

Again, isn't that what religionists want? The majority to dictate religions and religious behavior to the minorities? It seems the folks complaining the loudest are the same who want the Ten Commandments posted in the Courthouse, and are now claiming foul because they mistakenly thought they'd always be the majority.

Chris-fortunately those 12 million illegal Mexicans are catholic. Oughta balance out them 700 somolis.

NorthGuy3

Chris-fortunately those 12 million illegal Mexicans are catholic. Oughta balance out them 700 somolis.

You ought to talk. Your country of Canada is vehemently anti-Mexican -- unlike the U.S. which has taken in at least 20 million from Mexico. Ask anyone from Mexico who has applied for refuge in your country of Canada or for a visa to live there and ask what kind of "Canadian welcome" they received.

Canada is so racist they even fasttrack the Mexicans' refugee hearings so they can more quickly get them out of Canada. Fact.

Yet you Canadians are the first ones to come on here on a U.S. blog and rail against us if we even discuss problems we have here in the U.S. with uncontrolled illegal immigration. Your hypocracy is a joke. You Canadians and your phony crocodile tears for illegals who pour into our country but you can't get rid of yours fast enough.

The U.S. takes in more immigrants every year than any other country in the world. Fact.

So, NG3, why don't you do us Americans all a favor and take a nice long ride on a Canadian Grayhound bus.

This may come back and bite Tyson in the butt. Don't know about Tennessee, but most civilized states require that no Union contract provide less than the state or Federal (usually state) standards. It's possible somebody required to work on Labor Day could, regardless of the Contract language, claim holiday pay plus overtime for that day. And then there's the question of suppliers like trucking companies, etc. being available on labor day.
Unless they're mexican, of course...

And then there's the question of suppliers like trucking companies, etc. being available on labor day.
Unless they're mexican, of course...

Posted by northguy3 at 2008-08-05 01:49 PM | Reply | Flag

Wow, you made a valid point, I'm shocked.

How productive can a company, or a plant of that size be on Labor Day? Every other company that supplies them or that they would be shipping to would be closed.

It will probably turn in to a "Clean Your Homicide Belt Day" or a "Gather Rocks for a Public Stoning Day".

"How productive can a company, or a plant of that size be on Labor Day? "

As productive as they want. Order double the daily supplies, delivered the day before.

So screw the law, sue because you feel it's "just not right"?!?

Posted by Danforth

Yikes!! Chill Danny-Boy!! I'm not suing anybody or screwing anything.

A decision was made for everybody in that plant, Muslim or not. Now out of the 500+ non-Muslims, how many are gonna be ticked when Labor Day rolls around and all their buddies are up at the lake on what is a traditional, national holiday, hooking fish and popping beers and they're stuck gutting chickens? And what are these same boys gonna do on Eid al-Fitr? Go to Mosque, wash their footies, have some lamb-ka-bob?

As productive as they want. Order double the daily supplies, delivered the day before.

Posted by Danforth at 2008-08-05 01:55 PM | Reply

That's not how things work in the real world unfortunately. Getting a truck is hard enough on a normal week. Getting double the amount the day or even week prior to Labor Day or any other major Holiday (especially one that would be at months end...the Friday before Labor Day) is almost impossible.
Not to mention the fact that companies aren't in the practice of having additional warehouse space laying around for the hell of it. Also, what do they do with the additional finished product that ordinarily would be shipping OUT?

I know that stooge Rastaborg is a trucker. I'm sure he'll want to disagree with me, but any objective person knows trucks are nearly impossible to get at month end. He should also be aware that warehouse space isn't going unused at most companies.

I don't mean to imply that everyone should know the ins and outs of shipping freight. I meant to imply anyone that has worked in trucking, shipping/recieving, or the sales of goods that ship in Truckload and LTL quantities knows that trucking is tight.

Plus, I thought many on the right would be happy about the decision. You'd think they'd love to drop Labor Day (aka, May Day) as a holiday due to its socialist roots

~Katieberry

Pretty much THIS.

Actually, that whole post by KB is worth perusing.

Spud's only objection to this decision was the fact that it would make more sense (from Spud's perspective) to trade President's Day fer Eid rather than Labour Day.

The rights of workers around the globe are being trampled on and the holiday deserves better treatment by a union.

Be Well.

Unless I'm reading it wrong, this now means every non-Muslim at Tyson's will never be able to plan a three-day weekend anymore as Labor Day was traditionally celebrated on a Monday but Eid al Fitr can fall on any day of the week.

All non-Muslim employees must now give up forever any (since 1882) traditional end of summer, long Labor Day weekend plans with their families and friends? (Excellent point you made, ZOT, about this same thing in your post above.)

from Wikipedia:

Labor Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September. The holiday originated in 1882 as the Central Labor Union (of New York City) sought to create "a day off for the working man".

Congress made Labor Day a federal holiday in 1894. All fifty states have made Labor Day a state holiday. Traditionally, Labor Day is celebrated by most Americans as the symbolic end of the summer....

I also think Tater made a great point in this sentence from his above post:

The rights of workers around the globe are being trampled on and the holiday
deserves better treatment by a union.

- Dethspud

"A decision was made for everybody in that plant, Muslim or not"

The same when decisions were made everywhere else for the benefit of the majority Christian employees. The only reason folks are up in arms is ---gasp! ---these people are different.

I hope every religionist who wants to mix faith and governance takes notice.

One final question for anyone who wants to answer it.

Here's a hypothetical situation --

Catholics make the sign of the cross before praying often by first dipping their fingers into holy water [water blessed by a priest). The holy water is normally kept in a small bowl placed in a recessed portion of a wall or on top of a small stand made to hold the bowl.

If a Catholic employee wanted a holy water font at Tyson's to use before making their own prayers should they be able to get it? After all, foot baths are provided to the Muslims.

How about in the prayer room Tyson built for the Muslim employees? Shouldn't Tyson also put holy water fonts in the prayer room should Catholics wish to go in and use that room to pray? Or is no one else allowed to use the prayer room but Muslims? And if so, why?

(I don't know enough about the Jewish religion or other religions to use similar examples to make my point so I just used one I was familiar with. Maybe someone else can think of some.)

"just to curry favor with a single religous group. "

Bull. They're currying favor with a worker group.

"The rights of workers around the globe are being trampled on and the holiday deserves better treatment by a union."

I completely disagree. The wants of the workers should be more important than preserving some pseudo-Union holiday. For the negotiators to put their desire to retain Labor Day over the workers' desires to trade for EID would be defeating the entire purpose of representation. The leaders aren't there to get what YOU OR I want in the contract, they're there to get what their rank-and-file want. Exactly what they did in this case.

This will ultimately prove to be a waste of Tysons money. There is no way they will be able to operate efficiently while working on Labor Day.

Tyson simply submitted.

Anyone know if Dobbs, O'Reilly, Hannity, Malkin, etc have picked up on this?

"If a Catholic employee wanted a holy water font at Tyson's to use before making their own prayers should they be able to get it?"

If you truly want it, bring it up at the next Union meeting; your representatives will try to get it into the next contract.

"If you truly want it, bring it up at the next Union meeting; your representatives will try to get it into the next contract." - Danforth -

Bingo! we have a winner!!! Imagine the uproar and outrage if Protestant or Catholic groups in unions all started exercising their rights as a majority and the work lost due to their demands not being met (via strike or supporting another striking org).

It's not a union/employer issue, in fact, it's a hostile work environment and therefore an EEOC issue - I do foresee a lawsuit, maybe not on the Holiday but for the prayer rooms and footbaths. If this were a woman having to walk by and see pictures of 'neked' (in my Southern drawal) women at work, oh my word, the rucus that would cause. It's just not right. This company has NO RIGHT to create this hostile environment for non-moslems. Period!

A bunch of people are posting things along the line of "Where does it end?"

You know where it ends? When Tyson's profits are hurt more by accomodating these people than they would be by hiring others to do the same work.

The more religious concessions unions ask for, the more concessions they are going to have to make with pay and benefits.

"Imagine the uproar and outrage if Protestant or Catholic groups in unions all started exercising their rights as a majority and the work lost due to their demands not being met"

They have that right. If it means striking over a stupid thing like footbaths or holy water, they're free to be stupid. But trust me, no one in this environment is doing that.

And no work has been lost over this; you're arguing a strawman.

"The more religious concessions unions ask for..."

The first time Christmas was requested off, it was a religious concession.

"You know where it ends? When Tyson's profits are hurt..."

Speaking of that, what's the ETA on the American Family Association boycott?

Hmm, how about this one --

In most cases, if you work on a federal declared holiday most employees qualify for double pay -- especially union employees.

So, if double pay provisions were in the previous union agreements, did the union still demand double pay for the Muslims who will now be working on Labor Day?

And more importantly --how about double pay demanded for all of Tyson's non-Muslim employees who are now forced to work on Labor Day (and give up their traditional 3-day weekend) and instead must take off on the non-federal holiday of Eid-al-Fitr.

If the traditional double pay wasn't negotiated by the union in this case for all the employees working on Labor Day -- especially the non-Muslims -- then why not? Wasn't getting paid double for working a federal holiday probably already in the union's former contracts with Tyson? You mean to say the union would allow that important double-pay provision to be stripped out of a new contract to accomodate one single religious group? Just wonderin' is all.

If Tyson were profitable, it wouldn't have filed for bankruptcy protection. The company is broke.

Tyson chicken is crap. Foster Farms chicken is the best. I always buy their brand.

"The first time Christmas was requested off, it was a religious concession."

Agreed. If this is in response to something I said, I don't see how it relates.

"If the traditional double pay wasn't negotiated by the union in this case for all the employees working on Labor Day -- especially the non-Muslims -- then why not?"

It could be because they preferred EID to be treated as a holiday versus Labor Day. IF that was the case, it was because that's what their rank and filed wanted.

"Wasn't getting paid double for working a federal holiday probably already in the union's former contracts with Tyson? You mean to say the union would allow that important double-pay provision to be stripped out of a new contract to accomodate one single religious group?"

No, not at all. If EID is the new holiday, the pay provisions are the same as Thanksgiving, the 4th of July, or Christmas. I'd imagine some non-Muslims would enjoy getting paid double on what to them is just another Tuesday.

On fox news now. VP of Tyson speaking

"If this is in response to something I said, I don't see how it relates."

No...you don't.

"...This country was founded on Christian-Judaeo principles, beliefs, and honoring those holidays are part of our American tradition and heritage....Posted by CalifChris

More lying liars lying. You think this country was founded on Judeo-Christian principles????

fuck the bullshit attitudes here.

Why don't some shitheads like CC try to buy a Chick-Fil-A on Sunday. Or go to virtually any New York based online camera store and see if they answer their phone from Friday afternoon through Saturday. for the stupid here they are Born again Christian and Jewish run business who operate hours by their religion. Good luck getting a coffee in Utah.

CalifChris you are one racist fuck. I recall you are of Irish descent. Well my ancestors let your white trash potato starved bitches into my country to do the shit work so give a break to the next wave of immigrants.

I can assure you there are very few muslims in the world who would want to add your wrinkled ass to their harem. So lighten up.

"...Well my ancestors let your white trash potato starved bitches into my country to do the shit work so give a break to the next wave of immigrants...Posted by furio"

Yeah, but Chris the Bitch will whine: "But we're all whitey's - we have to stick together! Same with the Pollocks,and the commies and the WOPs and the Frogs..."

Chris is all about the white. God Bless him!

Actually dumpling you are correct - it was not founded on the Christian "religion" but on Christian "values" - and Jewish "values". eg. "love thy neighbor" and the like.

Easter not a Christian holiday? Stolen from the scientologists you say. Since you like to use wiki so much:

"but on Christian(sic) "values""

You did not spell "deist" correctly:

1,000 lashes and a keelhauling.

Sharks must eat, too.

Don't you have a d*ck to suck Dumbling?

Not until he's finished doing Furio.